Methods and apparatus utilizing a bipolar double D vehicle coupler in wireless power transfer applications

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatuses utilizing a bipolar double D vehicle coupler in wireless power transfer applications are described herein. Some implementations may include an apparatus for wireless power transfer. The apparatus comprises a first coil and a second coil connected in series to form a first circuit. The first coil does not overlap the second coil. The apparatus comprises a third coil and a fourth coil electrically connected in series to form a second circuit. The third coil does not overlap the fourth coil. At least a portion of the first circuit overlaps at least a portion of the second circuit. The first circuit is substantially magnetically decoupled from the second circuit.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for wireless power transfer, the apparatus comprising:
 a first coil and a second coil connected in series to form a first circuit, the first coil not overlapping the second coil; 
 a third coil and a fourth coil connected in series to form a second circuit, the third coil not overlapping the fourth coil, 
 wherein at least a portion of the first circuit overlaps at least a portion of the second circuit and wherein the first circuit is substantially magnetically decoupled from the second circuit. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first coil has different dimensions from the second coil and the third coil has different dimensions from the fourth coil. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first coil has the same dimensions as the second coil and the third coil has the same dimensions as the fourth coil. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a ferrite structure, wherein each of the first, second, third and fourth coils are disposed over the ferrite structure. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the first circuit and the second circuit are configured to be driven independently. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises a wireless power transmitter. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises a wireless power receiver. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein overall combined dimensions of the first, second, third and fourth coils are substantially the same as respective dimensions of a base pad coil of a transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit power to the apparatus. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein overall combined dimensions of the first, second, third and fourth coils are larger than respective dimensions of a base pad coil of a transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit power to the apparatus. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second coils comprise a first conductor and the third and fourth coils comprise a second conductor. 
     
     
       11. A method for wireless power transfer, the method comprising:
 receiving wireless power via a first circuit under the influence of an alternating magnetic field, the first circuit comprising a first coil connected in series with a second coil, the first coil not overlapping the second coil, and 
 receiving wireless power via a second circuit under the influence of the alternating magnetic field, the second circuit comprising a third coil connected in series with a fourth coil, the third coil not overlapping the fourth coil, 
 wherein at least a portion of the first circuit overlaps at least a portion of the second circuit and wherein the first circuit is substantially magnetically decoupled from the second circuit. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first coil has different dimensions from the second coil and the third coil has different dimensions from the fourth coil. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first coil has the same dimensions as the second coil and the third coil has the same dimensions as the fourth coil. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 11 , wherein each of the first, second, third and fourth coils are disposed over a ferrite structure. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein magnetic flux from the alternating magnetic field that passes through the overlapping portions of the first and second circuits induces currents in the first and second circuits having opposite polarity from each other. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 11 , wherein overall combined dimensions of the first, second, third and fourth coils are substantially the same as respective dimensions of a base pad coil that generates the alternating magnetic field. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 11 , wherein overall combined dimensions of the first, second, third and fourth coils are larger than respective dimensions of a base pad coil that generates the alternating magnetic field. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second coils comprise a first conductor and the third and fourth coils comprise a second conductor. 
     
     
       19. An apparatus for wireless power transfer, the apparatus comprising:
 first means for receiving wireless power under the influence of an alternating magnetic field; 
 second means for receiving wireless power under the influence of the alternating magnetic field connected in series with the first means to form a first circuit, the first means not overlapping the second means; 
 third means for receiving wireless power under the influence of the alternating magnetic field; and 
 fourth means for receiving wireless power under the influence of the alternating magnetic field connected in series with the third means to form a second circuit, the third means not overlapping the fourth means, 
 wherein at least a portion of the first circuit overlaps at least a portion of the second circuit and wherein the first circuit is substantially magnetically decoupled from the second circuit. 
 
     
     
       20. The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the first means has different dimensions from the second means and the third means has different dimensions from the fourth means. 
     
     
       21. The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the first means has the same dimensions as the second means and the third means has the same dimensions as the fourth means. 
     
     
       22. The apparatus of  claim 19 , further comprising means for channeling magnetic flux, wherein each of the first, second, third and fourth means are disposed over the means for channeling magnetic flux. 
     
     
       23. The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the apparatus comprises a wireless power transmitter. 
     
     
       24. The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the first circuit and the second circuit are configured to be driven independently. 
     
     
       25. The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the apparatus comprises a wireless power receiver. 
     
     
       26. The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein overall combined dimensions of the first, second, third and fourth means are substantially the same as respective dimensions of a base pad coil of a transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit power to the apparatus. 
     
     
       27. The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein overall combined dimensions of the first, second, third and fourth means are larger than respective dimensions of a base pad coil of a transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit power to the apparatus. 
     
     
       28. The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the first means comprises a first coil, the second means comprises a second coil, the third means comprises a third coil, and the fourth means comprises a fourth coil. 
     
     
       29. The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the means for channeling magnetic flux comprises a ferrite structure. 
     
     
       30. The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the first and second means comprise a first conductor and the third and fourth means comprise a second conductor.